Sangyo-sai (産業祭）

Sangyo-sai (産業祭 – Industrial Festival) is an annual festival at Fushimi Inari Taisha – ‘A ceremony expressing thanks to Inari Okami, the deity of all business enterprises, and praying for business success and economic prosperity.’ – (Fushimi Inari Website)

Fushimi Inari Taisha

This festival is one in which people pray for economic prosperity and success with their businesses. Businesses provide offerings of various products to the shrine in return for blessings. This festival was established in 1957 and so is recent by comparison to many other shrine festivals.

This festival also features a sacred dance (kagura) performed by shine maidens (called kagurame at Fushimi Inari Taisha. This dance is ‘Ōka-no-Mai” (桜花舞 – Cherry Blossom Flower Dance). The dance reminds us that not only is it Sangyo-sai but it is also springtime.

Dancers at Fushimi Inari Taisha

Now is the perfect time to thank Inari-Ōkami for the blessings of spring, and to pray for success with our jobs and business ventures.

How you can celebrate Sangyo-Sai at Home

It is still possible to celebrate Sangyo-sai at home, even without a kamidana!

Present offerings from your work to Inari–Ōkami. If you work for an employer, present your recent payslips to Inari-Ōkami and give thanks for the abundance of money. If you are self-employed, present your business plan, some payment receipts or even a recent project. You can place these in front of or on the kamidana if you have one.

Pray for future success: We all have goals when it comes to money and business. Make a list of everything you would like to manifest in the next year and pray to Inari-Ōkami to help with these goals. Remember to try and make your goals realistic but also trust in Inari-Ōkami that they will bless your requests.

Work on your business plan: If you are self-employed or are planning to go self-employed today is the perfect time to work on your business plan.

Write about your future: Grab a notebook or piece of paper and write down everything you want to achieve related to business. This could be getting a raise, being promoted, starting a business or similar goals. Be sure that as you write these things down, Inari-Ōkami is watching and taking an interest in your future.

I hope you enjoy reading about Sangyo-sai. Will you do anything to celebrate? Let me know in the comments!